Hollywood aristocracy line up for the awards

March 22 2002
AFP

Halle Berry ... nominated for best actress for her part in Monster's Ball.
Photo: AFP

The presenters at Sunday's 74th Academy Awards will be a mixture of movie and old-style aristocracy. They will include the real-life British knights Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ian McKellen as well as Dame Maggie Smith.

McKellen and Smith are contenders for best supporting actor Oscars, he for his role as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and she for her part as an acidic aristocrat in Gosford Park.

McCartney will sing his song Vanilla Sky, the title track of the movie, for which he has been nominated in the original song category.

Also appearing will be John Travolta, Hugh Jackman, Helen Hunt and Halle Berry, who is up for best actress for her racially charged role in Monster's Ball.